I’m home from a wonderful weekend attending the Jane Austen Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. I recently wrote about my experiences last year, and what a great event it is, but I must say this year was even better.

Yes, it was still murderously hot, but we set up a little camp in the shade behind Taylor’s tent, and that made all the difference. Saturday and Sunday, I rolled out the picnic blankets, had cold drinks and snacks, and spent most of the time just relaxing there chatting with various friends. It was lovely! In fact, we spent so much time chatting, that I didn’t manage to attend any official events all weekend. Oops! But from what I hear, they were all just as good as last year, if not better.

For the Twilight Shopping on Friday evening I wore my white 1790s dress again, but with new accessories to make it feel fresh. I made a collared chemisette that I wore over the dress and added an antique veil artfully draped over my hair. (Note to self, a veil will not stay artfully draped if you don’t pin it in place. It will slip and slide and drive you crazy.) To dress up my outfit, I added my favorite lapis earrings from Dames a la Mode and my antique quizzing glass on a new chain.

I actually managed to finished one new dress in time for the Festival, so it made its debut on Saturday. I have a lot of construction photos and more details to post, but it is a simple gathered front construction, similar to my white dress, made from a light weight aqua cotton stripe. The three quarter sleeves were perfect in the heat, and once I took off my shoes and stockings (because I am that girl), I was really comfortable.

Sunday, I wore my trusty block print bib front gown. This dress has been through so much but is still going strong. The beauty of a print! Again, I paired it with the straw bonnet, adding the chemisette and lapis earrings I wore on Friday. By this point the heat was really getting to me and the full length sleeves were a bit too warm. I think next year I need to have only short and three quarter length sleeves to keep me cool. And maybe find some Merveilleuse style sandals…Anything to help with the heat!